Best Time to Drive from Lake Elsinore to National City

Right now (12:51 am PST): about 69 minutes via I-15 South.

Only 48% of this drive is measured by working traffic sensors right now. The rest is estimated from nearby sensors, typical speeds and street traffic, so times can be off. Why so few sensors work.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Lake Elsinore to National City by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	69	87	98	87	76	75	74	73	74	78	85	85	76	71	70	70	69
Tue	69	88	108	96	82	74	74	73	73	81	88	89	84	73	71	70	69
Wed	69	87	107	93	79	74	73	73	74	82	88	89	84	73	70	70	69
Thu	69	88	105	91	79	74	74	73	74	85	88	91	86	73	70	70	69
Fri	70	79	83	77	75	73	73	74	75	82	87	83	77	73	72	71	69
Sat	70	70	71	71	71	74	78	81	80	77	75	73	72	72	72	71	71
Sun	70	69	70	70	70	71	72	73	73	72	72	71	72	71	71	71	69

About this drive

On weekdays the 79-mile drive from Lake Elsinore to National City (via I-15 South) usually takes as little as 69 minutes and up to 108 minutes, when leaving around 7 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 6 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 75 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12 pm on Saturdays (81 minutes).

About 75 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 3 miles surface streets (3 to 7 minutes on weekdays), estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time. Drive times are measured from central Lake Elsinore to central National City along the route on the map. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

Simulated from typical freeway speeds at each point of the drive for the time you would reach it, from every 5-minute reading we have recorded. We don't have sensors on surface streets yet, so the time on them is estimated from how congested the freeways around each end of the drive are at that time, in both directions: streets jam when the freeways do.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from Lake Elsinore to National City?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 6 pm. The drive usually takes about 69 minutes then, versus up to 108 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Lake Elsinore to National City?

The 79-mile drive usually takes 69 to 108 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 75 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Lake Elsinore to National City?

Leaving around 7 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 108 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

I-15 South in San Diego (50 miles) · I-15 South in Inland Empire (24 miles) · SR-163 South in San Diego (1.6 miles)

Inland Empire traffic right now · Inland Empire traffic tomorrow · San Diego traffic right now · San Diego traffic tomorrow

More drives

National City to Lake Elsinore (return trip) · Lake Elsinore to Los Angeles · Lake Elsinore to San Diego · Lake Elsinore to Lakewood · Lake Elsinore to Long Beach · Lake Elsinore to Anaheim · Lake Elsinore to Riverside · Lake Elsinore to Santa Ana · Lake Elsinore to Irvine · Lake Elsinore to Rancho Cucamonga · Lake Elsinore to San Bernardino · Lake Elsinore to Fontana

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	69	87	98	87	76	75	74	73	74	78	85	85	76	71	70	70	69
Tue	69	88	108	96	82	74	74	73	73	81	88	89	84	73	71	70	69
Wed	69	87	107	93	79	74	73	73	74	82	88	89	84	73	70	70	69
Thu	69	88	105	91	79	74	74	73	74	85	88	91	86	73	70	70	69
Fri	70	79	83	77	75	73	73	74	75	82	87	83	77	73	72	71	69
Sat	70	70	71	71	71	74	78	81	80	77	75	73	72	72	72	71	71
Sun	70	69	70	70	70	71	72	73	73	72	72	71	72	71	71	71	69

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	69	87	98	87	76	75	74	73	74	78	85	85	76	71	70	70	69
Tue	69	88	108	96	82	74	74	73	73	81	88	89	84	73	71	70	69
Wed	69	87	107	93	79	74	73	73	74	82	88	89	84	73	70	70	69
Thu	69	88	105	91	79	74	74	73	74	85	88	91	86	73	70	70	69
Fri	70	79	83	77	75	73	73	74	75	82	87	83	77	73	72	71	69
Sat	70	70	71	71	71	74	78	81	80	77	75	73	72	72	72	71	71
Sun	70	69	70	70	70	71	72	73	73	72	72	71	72	71	71	71	69

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	69	87	98	87	76	75	74	73	74	78	85	85	76	71	70	70	69
Tue	69	88	108	96	82	74	74	73	73	81	88	89	84	73	71	70	69
Wed	69	87	107	93	79	74	73	73	74	82	88	89	84	73	70	70	69
Thu	69	88	105	91	79	74	74	73	74	85	88	91	86	73	70	70	69
Fri	70	79	83	77	75	73	73	74	75	82	87	83	77	73	72	71	69
Sat	70	70	71	71	71	74	78	81	80	77	75	73	72	72	72	71	71
Sun	70	69	70	70	70	71	72	73	73	72	72	71	72	71	71	71	69